Display and storage rack



June 15, 1954 w. C(WILLIAMS 2,681,156

DISPLAY AND STORAGE RACK Filed Oct. 3, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 w. c. WILLIAMS DISPLAY AND STORAGE RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1949 HHHIH ATTORNEYS.

June 15, 1954 w. c. WILLIAMS DISPLAY AND STORAGE RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1949 INVENTOR I I A ATTORNEYS.

so I WII! IHHII ulllm Patented June 15, 1954 UNiTED STATE TENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a combined display and storage cabinet for displaying and storing motor vehicle lubricating oil packaged in quart cans, and designed primarily as service station equipment.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of this character which may be conveniently located, preferably between gasoline pumps of a service station, the cabinet being so constructed may be securely locked against removal of the contents by unauthorized persons, at night or when the service station is closed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of this character wherein the cover sections or panels at opposite sides of the cabinet may be removed and erected in such a way that an additional display rack and cabinet is provided, thereby doubling the capacity of the cabinet, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet for displaying and storing quart cans of oil, the cabinet having a drawer in which the oil cans are deposited after the oil has been poured therefrom, to the end that the oil remaining in a can after the dumping of the oil into a crankcase, may be recovered.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a combined display and storage cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention, the covers or cover panels having been removed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover panels as erected in the formation of a display and storage cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the rectangular base on which the main portion of the cabinet is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the removable top section or clamping plate for clamping the upper ends of the cover panels together in forming an auxiliary display and storage cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the cabinet.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective View illustrating the upper end of the cabinet with the that the cabinet with its contents cover panels located for positioning over the main section of the display cabinet.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l--'l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view illustrating the upper ends of adjacent cover panels when secured together in the formation of an auxiliary display cabinet.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the construction of the drawer or empty can container.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the main section of the cabinet comprises the base 5 which is preferably rectangular in formation, and constructed of angle bar material with the open sides of the angle bar material, disposed inwardly.

The cabinet also comprises side members 8 which have their lower ends secured to the base 5, the front and rear edges of the side members being diverged towards the upper ends of the side members.

Disposed between the members ii, are fluted members i, which have their lower ends secured to the base 5, the upper ends of the side members and fluted members being embraced by the downwardly and inwardly extended flange 8 forming a part of the cover or top 9, holding the side members and fluted members together at their upper ends. As clearly shown by Fig. 6 of the drawings, the side members are formed with flanges it that extend longitudinally of their edges, which flange engage the flanges l l of the fluted members i.

Extending tranversely across the fluted portions of the members I, and spaced from the base 5, are the guard bars i2 which hold the lowermost cans of oil positioned Within the fluted portions of the members i, in position.

As shown, the cover or top 9 is of a width so that the upper ends of the iluted cover panels 13 may be positioned under the flange 8, when it is desired to close or cover the cans supported within the cabinet.

The base 5 is formed with openings [4 disposed adjacent to the ends of the front and rear sides of the base 5, which openings accommodate the pins 45 that extend downwardly from the cover panels, so that in positioning the cover panels with their fluted portions disposed adjacent to the fluted portions of the members 1, the cans held within the fluted members 7, will be completely enclosed or encased by the cover sections or panels.

The cover or top 9 is hingedly connected to one of the side members 6, the cover being provided at its opposite side, with a lock pin it over which the lock controlled arm 11 engages, the arm I! being secured to the inner end of the shaft I8 on which the handle 19 is secured, and by means of which the shaft and lock controlled arm 11 are operated to either lock the cover in its closed position, or unlock the cover to permit the cover to be swung upwardly permitting the cover .panels 13 to be positioned and then held by the cover or top 9, against being removed to gain access to the cans of oil on the stand or cabinet.

When the fluted cover panels 13 are to be used as an auxiliary display cabinet, the bars 28 are brought into use, the bars 20 being provided with upwardly extended end portions 2| that are formed with openings through which the pins 15 of the fluted cover panels 13, extend.

The upper ends of the fluted panels 13 are held together by means of the clamp plate 22 which has downwardly extended flanges 23 that are forced downwardly over the upper ends of the cover panels [3 in a manner as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, holding the upper ends of the fluted cover panels together at their upper ends. Flanges 25 extend downwardly from the longitudinal side edges of the plate 22 and contact the strips secured to the upper ends of the fluted cover panels holding them against movement away from each other when secured by the clamp plate 22.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a combined display storage cabinet for quart cans of oil wherein the fluted cover panels may be removed from the main portion of the cabinet, and the fluted cover panels positioned with the open sides of the fluted portions disposed outwardly for the reception of quart cans of oil, providing an auxiliary display stand and increasing the capacity of the cabinet one hundred per cent.

One of the side members 5 is provided with an opening 25 that is normally closed by means of the pivoted closure 28, through which opening cans from which oil has been poured, are deposited in the container 21 which is in the form of a sliding drawer mounted on the slides 28 extending inwardly from the inner surfaces of the fluted members i of the cabinet.

The container 2? is provided with a slatted bottom 29 so that the oil draining from the cans, may fall between the slats forming the bottom and be deposited in the drip pan 3!), which also is supported on slides 3 l, to permit the drip pan to be readily removed.

The lower front section of the cabinet is closed by means of the closure 32 which has an offset lower end 33 that fits behind the flange 34 extending inwardly from the base, thereby holding the lower end of the closure 32 in its closed position. The upper end of the closure 32 is locked by means of the lock 35 which is key controlled. Due to this construction, the closure may be readily removed so that access to the drip pan and container 2'! may be had in order to remove the empty cans and oil which has been recovered.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a combined display and storage cabinet of the portable type, and one wherein the merchandise supported therein, may be completely enclosed and locked against removal by unauthorized persons.

It will further be seen that because of the construction of the cover panels, the cover panels may be used as an auxiliary support for canned merchandise, when they have (been removed to display the merchandise of the cabinet proper, thereby increasing the display capacity of the cabinet at no additional cost to the purchaser of the cabinet.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A combined display and storage cabinet, comprising a base embodying a rectangular frame, vertical side members spaced apart, having their lower ends secured to the base, portions of said side members adjacent to the ends thereof being curved inwardly, offset flanges formed along the marginal edges of the inwardly curved portions, fluted members providing recesses in which cans of merchandise are held, forming the front and back walls of the cabinet, flanges formed along the longitudinal edges of the fluted members fitted against the ofiset flanges of said side members, a rectangular cover having its marginal edges extended downwardly and inwardly providing a rectangular flange fitted over the upper ends of said side members and fluted members, and means for securing the cover in position releasably securing the vertical side members and fluted members together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,922,504 Smith Aug. 15, 1933 1,991,102 Kernaghan Feb. 12, 1935 2,111,846 Dunham Mar. 22, 1938 2,192,862 Eagley Mar. 5, 1940 2,209,461 Kunkel July 30, 1940 2,365,836 Partridge Dec. 26, 1944 2,440,541 Gash Apr. 27, 1948 2,443,837 Smith June 22, 1948 

